When Dagmar lands in Jakarta, she finds her connecting flight has been canceled... along with every other flight out of the country. The currency is uWhen Dagmar lands in Jakarta, she finds her connecting flight has been canceled... along with every other flight out of the country. The currency is under attack and a revolution is underway. Luckily, Dagmar is the major producer/writer for Great Big Idea, a company that specialized in creating ARGs: alternate reality games. Her boss is a multimillionaire and he's determined to get Dagmar out of the country and back to safety, where she can start writing the next big game. When some of the more conventional rescue attempts fail, Dagmar turns to the online gaming community to help her.

Fast forward to a few months later, with Dagmar back in LA and starting a brand new ARG. As the game gets underway, one of Dagmar's longtime friends is murdered. Can she once again call on gamers to help solve this murder? And, as Dagmar digs deeper to solve this mystery, other countries come under attack, just like Jakarta. The line between game and reality begins to blur... however, This Is Not A Game.

Okay, this book is difficult to sum up, particularly without sounding cheesy. Williams does an excellent job between joining online games with reality, as well as recognizing the strange potential of massive amounts of gamers. I think he creates a story that will appeal to classic RPGers as well as those who've only gamed on a console or computer. I liked Dagmar - she was resourceful, funny, and creative.

If I have any complaints for this book, it's that it felt like there were a few loose ends or unnecessary characters/plot bits. The transition from the chapters in Jakarta to the start of The Long Night of Briana Hall was abrupt, and the ending didn't have quite the punch I expected... or maybe I was just thinking there was going to be another plot twist. The moments with the gamers are gold... I wish there were more (why is it I hate reading message boards in real life, but enjoy them in a story?). And there's just something thoroughly enjoyable about a plot involving what happens when gold-farming goes so wrong.

If you love gaming, whether it's on paper and involves d20s or if it's on a console or involves being in character, this is a book you'll probably enjoy. I'm glad it was recommended to me!...more

I loved reading this, even though I was often filled with a sense of dread and worry. Just listen to the title of the second chapter: "How to Elect JoI loved reading this, even though I was often filled with a sense of dread and worry. Just listen to the title of the second chapter: "How to Elect John McCain... or, How Many Democrats Does It Take to Lose the Most Winnable Presidential Election in American History?" Hopefully, that's not how things go, but Moore puts it out there. "Ask Mike!" is another chapter, where people ask such hard-hitting questions as "which presidential candidate do I want to have a beer with?" and "if I have to move north of the border after the next presidential election because McCain has won, what do I need to know about Canada and Canadians?", which is something I've always wanted to know. You'll also get proposals on how to fix our broken elections, what to do once the election is over, and a handy candidate guide for several senate and the house seats. And if you hate Michael Moore, he's provided you with a chapter of lines taken out of context for you to use when telling people how awful you think the book is. Generous!

The book was funny, informative, and thought-provoking. It will make you want to go out and talk to people, and not just about the election. I've been going on about Social Security, health care, and the evils of high fructose corn syrup. You learn about the history of the Pledge of Allegiance, why our election is on a Tuesday and why it SHOULD be on a Saturday or Sunday, why the American people actually pay MORE taxes than the French and get so much less for it, and how wells could help America's image. If you love the Daily Show or Corbert Report, this is like one long episode in print form. Yes!

Okay, so I highly recommend this book. Go buy it or check it out from you library! Go... now!...more